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IAF's Women Pilot To Fly Sukhoi-30 On India-China Border

“At the advanced base in Tejpur and Assam, we are always prepared for any kind of jobs and problems that may come upon us.”

Pilots are prepared for any situation along the China border, Flight Lieutenant Tejaswi Rao of the Indian Air Force (IAF) said on Tuesday. She is a Weapon System Operator (WSO) in the Sukhoi-30 fleet.

Rao said, every fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force trains to take part in actual operations since that is when we get to prove our mettle. Our pilots are available to respond to any situation from a number of bases in the Eastern Sector. “At the advanced base in Tejpur and Assam, we are always prepared for any kind of jobs and any problem that may come upon us,” Rao added.

The WSO often referred to as wizzos, flying in the rear cockpit of the plane are specialised officers to operate the weapons that are launched by the multi-role Su-30 fighter aircraft at adversarial targets.

Another Su-30 fighter pilot, Flight Lieutenant Sakshya Bajpai said that training missions assist us to become oriented, preparing for any situation and upholding our motto, "Touch the Sky with Glory." 

She also said that the unpredictable weather and geography made it difficult to fly fighter jets in the country's eastern regions' rugged, heavily forested terrain.

Since India and China have been in a military standoff along the northern frontiers of Ladakh for the past two years, the forces are on high alert along the whole Line of Actual Control (LAC).

To keep the enemy in check, the Indian Air Force has been conducting intensive flying operations in the area. The Su-30 MKI fighter and one Rafale squadron in Hashimara, West Bengal have served as the force's mainstays in the area.


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Woman Pilot China border Sukhoi-30 frontline

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